Significant restructuring of local club rugby.

[Heathen]

https://rise.articulate.com/share/26CsHbwNnui6nhtbatR0v03gYNbPO02M#/

[Neils]

Saw that this morning with some early fairly negative comments. Long time since involved so cannot comment whether it is good or just another RFU fook up.

[Peej]

I actually think a lot of this is a good thing. I played Level 5 for three years a while ago, and we were doing 4+ hour trips to away games every other week. One year our closest away game was 3 hours to Bournemouth (and we got absolutely smashed). That just isn't sustainable. Players don't want to do it, coaches don't want to do it, clubs don't want to do it. Rugby is moving into a stage now where it's about retention rather than recruitment and expansion, or clubs will simply die for lack of players and being unable to put a team out. The active players I know, the coaches I know, are in favour of this.

There will be imbalances, with some clubs in the wrong leagues and either being well out in front or way off the pace. But on the whole it is needed.

[baldpaul101]

agree with Peej.

This is generally a good thing, there may be some clubs which become more inconvenienced but on the whole the idea is correct.
Clubs are hemorrhaging adult male players, there's just too many other things for lads to do. Anything which can reduce the foot print taken up by rugby on a Saturday has to be a good thing.

[Heathen]

Agree with much has been said above.

I live very close to the Chairmen of two local clubs - High Wycombe and Marlow - and chat to them occasionally about the state of the game at that level. Attracting and retaining players is their biggest concern. Running 3/4 sides plus a Vets is about par for the course. I played at both clubs in the past and both of them, for a period of time, could regularly put out between 8 and 10 teams.

Looking at the changes, they both remain in the same league, together with many of the other clubs from the old Southern Counties North.

[DGP Wasp]

Until last season, my local club, Maidenhead (possibly same as Peej?), were in SW Premier, meaning a round trip to Devon or Cornwall for the majority of away games.  Last season the geography of other teams at their level allowed them to shift across to London SE Premier, saving a great deal of time and money travelling.  Not sure how the boundaries will be drawn under the new scheme, but going from 4 to 6 leagues at their level will further reduce travel time and expense, and of course 2 fewer away games to travel to.

On the face of it, looks like good sense.  Not heard anything from anyone closer to the 1st team to gauge their views.